Philistines

The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the helmet the Philistine warriors wore was decorated with feather-like objects. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Philistines” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Philistines (source: Bible Lands 2012)

complete verse (2 Samuel 5:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 5:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then the Philistines came and scattered themselves in the valley of Rephaites.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The Philistines came and spread out in Rephaim valley.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, the Filistinhon camped at the Valley of Refaim.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The army of Philistia arrived at Rephaim Valley southwest of Jerusalem and spread all over the valley.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 5:18

Now: another translation of the common Hebrew conjunction, which may just as well be left untranslated in this context.

Spread out: here and in verse 22 the verb used has the idea of expansion and indicates that they covered the entire territory. Revised English Bible and New American Bible use the verb “overrun.” Translators should be careful to avoid translating this verb in such a way as to give the impression that the troops dispersed in fear. The idea is rather that they took up their positions all over the valley, not that they separated from each other in disarray. Several modern versions use the technical military term “deployed” (New Jerusalem Bible, La Bible du Semeur, Bible en français courant).

The valley of Rephaim: this broad valley or plain is located about five kilometers to the southwest of Jerusalem. Since the word Rephaim means “giants” in some contexts (see, for example, Deut 2.10-11; 2 Sam 21.16), this is sometimes translated “Valley of Giants” (King James Version margin, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). If translators choose to translate the meaning of the Hebrew rephaim as in Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, they should be consistent and use the same translation in verse 22 and in 23.13.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .